The latest figures for patients needing hospital treatment show 28,657 adults and children were facing delays at the end of August -- up from 20,657 in December, an increase of 8,000. The grim figures also reveal there was a jump of 835 in waiting list figures between July and August.

Hospitals which are having to cut services include Limerick Regional Hospital, Galway University Hospital, Tallaght Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda.